Button Family in America

Lysander was a pioneer in the design and building of fire engines, his products being eventually used in Canada, Europe and South America as well as the US. He was a prominent man in community affairs.

Built in Waterford, NY, his "Knickerbocker Engine No 5" is on display in the museum at Virginia City, NV. It was built in 1856 and originally sold for $4,500.

(VII) Lysander, son of Hazzard Button, was born in North Haven, Connecticut, September 2, 1810. He appeared in Albany, New York, with his parents. When a mere lad he lived in other places, and at age of twenty-one settled in Waterford, Saratoga county, New York. He began work in Waterford as a machinist, and about the year 1835 entered the firm of William B. Platt & Company with N. B. Doe, manufacturers of fire engines of crude and primitive models. In a few years he bought out Mr. Platt andon the death of Judge Doe became the sole owner of the business, which he conducted in Waterford for one-half a century. During that time Robert Blake was associated with him, a partner for several years, and afterward his eldest son, Theodore E.Button, under firm name of Button & Son. In 1881 he sold out to Holroyd & Company, and led a retired life until his death, July 29, 1898. When he entered the business the building of fire engines was in its infancy. The engines were of crude design and of little value for fire protection. He immediately began to introduce improvements, which he did not protect with patents, and which allowed his competitors to very soon adopt them. He invented and first applied to fire engines the "Crane Neck, the "Butterfly" or "Folding Brakes," the "Squirrel Tail Suction," large cylinders with adjustable stroke, the return or "runaround" by which water could be returned to the suction to relieve pressure on the hose. He patented the "improved air chamber, with contractor neck," folding handles on hose couplings, and a number of other improvements on hand and steam fire engines. When he left the business the "Button Fire Engine" was a "thing of beauty" and a marvel of boundless power and theacme of fire fighting machinery. "Button" engines were sold in every state and territory in Canada, South America and in Europe, and wherever the engines went the reputation of Lysander Button as a total-abstaining, Sabbath-observing, honorable christian man of business went with them.

He began life absolutely without capital, but he never failed, never had a note go to protest, never was without unbounded credit and never missed a pay day. He was a busy man but never too busy to be interested in the welfare of his town. He served on the board of trustees and on the school board. He took especial interest in the schools and in having a good water supply. He was a Republican and a great admirer of Horace Greeley. He was a staunch supporter of the government during the civilwar and never lost faith in the ultimate success of northern arms. He lost a valuable consignment of engines during the war which were destroyed by the privateer "Alabama." He was very indignant and after walking the office floor for a few minutessaid to his bookkeeper: "Take the ledger and open an account with the English pirate 'Alabama,' I will have every cent of that in good British gold, when the war is over," and he did with interest to date twenty years later. In 1838 he united withthe Presbyterian church of Waterford. In 1842 he was made ruling elder. He was superintendent of the Sunday school twenty-five years and a teacher until within one year of his death. He held the offices of deacon, trustee and leader of the choir at various times. For sixty years he was a faithful member and rarely was his pew vacant. He was always cheerful, of strong faith, sanguine temperament, fearless and positive, yet tenderhearted as a woman and loyal in his friendships.

He married Abigail Ranney, born June 15, 1810, died April 1, 1874. Children: May Josephine; Eliza, married George Henry Page (see Page II); Theodore E., in partnership with his father; Julia M.; Charles Ranney; Charles Ranney and Mrs. Page are theonly survivors. Abigail (Ranney) Button was a descendant of Thomas Ranney, born in Scotland, was of Middletown, Connecticut, in 1658, married, in 1659, at age of forty-three, Mary Hubbard, aged seventeen, died June 21, 1713, "lived 97 years," leftfour sons and six daughters. Many of the Ranney name served in the revolution from Massachusetts and Connecticut, and the name is an eminent one among the families of New England. The Button family appears often on Massachusetts revolutionary rolls under the name Button, Butten, Buten and Buton.